The Rise & Fall & Rise again Of Domestic Violence

Everywhere you turn now there is another story of a woman being beaten, raped and assaulted. The latest headline is District Attorney Eric Schneiderman physically abusing 4 women one of whom was the recipient of a open handed slap that left her totally disoriented and fighting to defend herself. The story ends like most, Schneiderman’s actions led to his forced resignation by those around him, including the Governor of New York. So now we have another man in power who has deceived many into thinking he was for feminism, against violence and male domination over the rights of all women. Well, if that’s not an open handed slap to the face leaving us disoriented, I don’t know what is....read more...

The issue of domestic violence was something that most women didn’t really talk about too much because of the shame, stigma and the system that always worked against them. Women suffered in silence and fear then domestic violence was hushed, not taken seriously and forced countless women into hiding. The #MeToo movement has putdomestic violence back in the spotlight and gave many women all over the world the courage to come out of hiding and say me too. These stories are shooting out into the media like a machine gun and all the bullets hit the target. The backlash has heads shaking and spinning wondering how we got to this place. We were always in this place. I don’t think society fully comprehends the consistent cover up by so many men to keep their reputation in tact as a good guy that respects women. Schneiderman had everyone fooled, including the National Organization For Women-NYC chapter who always supported him. He marched for women’s rights alongside them, gave powerful speeches regarding empowerment and equality, and now this.
Are we too trusting? No. We want so much to believe that there are men out there who will stand by us, treat us with respect and humanity but we seemed to be failed a lot lately. I believe there is hope, we’re just looking for it in the wrong places. If we think that men with worldly power are capable of treating women with love and compassion allowing them to reach their full potential, then we’re kidding ourselves. No, the men that will stand with us are closer than we think. They may not hold powerful positions but they don’t need to. Consider the men that were raised by strong women who taught their sons to be real men, showed them that women are human, strong and deserve the same chances and opportunities. But most of all the lesson that it is NEVER okay to hit, rape or sexually assault a woman. These men are out there. And the best thing about them is they are raising sons the way their mother raised them. They are the allies, the partners that will stand with us. So let’s stop looking to entertainment, sports and politics for our allies, they will let us down every time.

Domestic violence hits home literally for every woman that is caught in it. This is not something that should ever hide in the shadows and force it’s victims into total silence. There are so many components that have done women wrong and sent their abuser away with a slap on the wrist. The physical bruises may heal but the mental scars never do. People arguing in the street, a family having a shouting match in the apartment below that could escalate are all triggers that will re-open those scars. I’m happy Eric Schneiderman stepped down, but that’s not enough.

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